Winner of the 2013 AASECT Professional Book Award!

New Directions in Sex Therapy: Innovations and Alternatives focuses on cutting-edge, therapy paradigms as alternatives to conventional clinical strategies. With each passing year, the treatment of sexual problems seems to emphasize more medical and pharmacological interventions. There is correspondingly less interest in the experiences of the individuals or couples involved. This book expands the definition of our field.

Part I highlights the major problems and criticisms facing sex therapy and furnishes a rationale for new directions. Included in this new edition are critiques of "sexual addiction" nomenclature, the neglect of the ethical dimension in sex therapy, and there is a call to expand our vision of what sex therapy can attain. Part II demonstrates new approaches to dealing with traditional sex therapy concerns, including lack of desire and erectile dysfunction as well as innovative goals, such as integrating sexual medicine with sex therapy, using client feedback to customize therapy for the particular individual/couple's best interests, promoting relationship growth in working with transgender clients, and transcending sexual function/dysfunction to optimize erotic intimacy in long-term couples. This 2nd edition of New Directions in Sex Therapy: Innovations and Alternatives is replete with helpful new clinical illustrations across the spectrum of theoretical orientations (e.g., systemic, narrative, Experiential, CBT) to demonstrate these approaches in action.

This book is intended for anyone who deals with sexual issues and concerns in therapy-clinicians of every kind, novices and advanced practitioners-rather than only those who define themselves as sex therapists.

About the Author

Peggy J. Kleinplatz, PhD is Professor of Medicine and Clinical Professor of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. She is a clinical psychologist, Certified Sex Therapist, and Sex Educator. Since 1983, she has been teaching Human Sexuality at the School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, where she received the Prix d'Excellence in 2000. She is former Chair of Certifications for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. She has published extensively on sexual problems with the intent to challenge, expand, and diversify the field of sex therapy. Her clinical work focuses on eroticism and transformation. Her current research focuses on optimal sexuality, with a particular interest in sexual health in the elderly, disabled and marginalized populations.

Reviews

"The second edition of New Directions in Sex Therapy goes beyond being current: It breaks new ground and outlines pathways into the future. It is an indispensable addition to the library of any thoughtful sex therapist or sexologist." -Margaret Nichols Ph.D, Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy

"This is an essential and groundbreaking reference book for clinicians providing sexual health care. It gives them new perspectives on sexual concerns from an interdisciplinary perspective and contains extremely useful clinical illustrations." - Eli Coleman, PhD, LP, Professor and Director, Program in Human Sexuality, University of Minnesota Medical School, USA

"Wisdom, depth of knowledge, and heart, within one of the most informative books in the field of human sexuality. There is absolutely no other book as well-written and accessible as New Directions in Sex Therapy." - P. Michele Sugg, MSW, President, American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists

"Drawing from a broad range of theoretical perspectives, Kleinplatz' edited volume constitutes an articulate and erudite plea for sexology to venture outside of its comfort zone, lest it wither therein. The suggested destination is the irreducible richness and diversity of the human sexual experience." - Marta Meana, PhD, Professor of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA; President, Society for Sex Therapy and Research

"The innovations are supported with case studies to help the therapist to approach sexual concerns in ways that are 'outside the box.' A comprehensive guide for both new and seasoned sex therapists and an excellent read for others interested in sexual health." - Beverly Whipple, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor Emerita, Rutgers, The State University of NJ, USA

"This is a groundbreaking book, innovative, and forward looking. It exposes some current myths about sexuality, sexual dysfunction, and the goals of sex therapy. It is humane, responsive to human needs, and creative." - Arthur C. Bohart, PhD,
Professor Emeritus, California State University Dominguez Hills, USA

"In this era of medicalization and insurancification of human sexuality, New Directions in Sex Therapy is a crucial read for all mental health professionals. The authors are powerful voices of a paradigm shift that should change the field forever." - Lin Myers, PhD, Professor of Psychology, CSU Stanislaus, California, USA

"This is an excellent book-both scholarly and accessible! Instead of emphasizing mechanistic techniques as so many 'sex therapy' books do, Dr. Kleinplatz' book presents a wise and deeply human approach that honors the client. I strongly recommend this book." - David N. Elkins, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Pepperdine University, USA; President, Division 32, Society for Humanistic Psychology, American Psychological Association

"New Directions in Sex Therapy is both brilliant and accessible. The book invites us as clinicians-whether at the start of our careers or years into our work-to look at our own assumptions about our clients and our practices and to keep in mind what makes an experience sexual. Their approaches remind us that sex can be, should be, intimate, deeply personal, and erotic. They encourage us not to settle by making the boring bearable. New Directions in Sex Therapy moves us away from the mechanistic and into a framework that is theoretically rich. Using case vignettes and their accumulated years of clinical wisdom, the authors help us to be better at our work. I will use this book to guide my own clinical work and adopt it as a textbook for graduate and post-graduate courses in sex therapy. This exceptional book is more than a breath of fresh air; it breathes life into the practice of sex therapy." - Sallie Foley, MSW, University of Michigan, USA; Co-author, Sex Matters for Women

"Dr. Kleinplatz and her fine group of authors encourage us to take a hard look at how we conceptualize and address sexual problems and, indeed, how we and our patients even define what comprises a meaningful sexual experience." - S. Michael Plaut, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA; Past President, Society for Sex Therapy and Research; former editor, Journal of Sex Education and Therapy

"excellently edited... experienced professionals...[will] find some truly new ideas. And, in any case, having this broad range of issues, of varying degrees of 'newness', all in a single volume is undoubtedly useful." - Sexual and Relationship Therapy, Vol. 17, No.4, 2002

"New Directions is a well-organized, bold, and important book that promises up-to-date coverage of the theoretical and research literature in the field of sex therapy. The contributors provide formidable challenges to reductive, biomedical explanations of clients' sexual and intimacy-related concerns, and they offer many practical, insightful, and helpful suggestions. At the same time, however, none of the contributors succomb to offering 'cookbook' type solutions. Thus New Directions should enjoy a wide readership - it is highly relevant to experienced sex therapists, but it would also be a valuable resource for counselors who have a more general practice and want to incorporate a relational and contextual understanding of sexuality into their clinical work. . . A must read for mental health professionals working with clients who have sexual concerns." - Psychotherapy: Theory / Research / Practice / Training

"This collection of provocative, solid, and carefully crafted essays examines the possibilities of helping people find sexual passion. New Directions in Sex Therapy, complete with a 20-page Index, makes a major contribution. Professional sex therapists and people naive about the field will all find this collection a valuable and (intellectually) stimulating resource." - AHP Perspectives

Book Information
ISBN 9781138110564
Author Peggy J. Kleinplatz
Format Paperback
Page Count 416
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 566g